A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. -Henry David Thoreau
Imagine a lake surrounded by rolling mountains, fed by a pristine river, and bordered by shady forests. Claytor Lake is a deep mountain lake with cool, clear waters and a fascinating history.
Long before the New River was dammed to form Claytor Lake in 1939, Cherokee, Iroquois and Catawba tribes roamed the area and hunted there. Settlers traveled on the nearby Wilderness Road, a footpath and wagon trail in the mid-1700’s. At the bottom of Claytor Lake rests the remains of one of the earliest settlements in the New River Valley, Dunkard’s Bottom. Dunkard’s Bottom was formed by a mystic German sect in 1749, but was swallowed by the lake when the dam was built to generate electric power. Visit Claytor Lake State Park to see the historical marker for Dunkard’s Bottom as well as the chimney that has been preserved from resident Col. William Christian’s 1771 home. Virginia is home to many historical sites and Claytor Lake is no exception. The visitor’s center at Claytor Lake State Park is the restored 1879 log home of Haven Howe, a Civil War cavalryman, craftsman, and early environmentalist who was one of the first advocates for protecting the New River from pollution. In addition to experiencing a living part of the past, guests can view a variety of exhibits at the park on topics ranging from how early settlers survived to the lake’s water quality.
Today, Claytor Lake is known for its good fishing, outdoor recreation and the natural splendor that surrounds it. The lake offers excellent habitat for smallmouth bass, some record breaking fish have been caught there. Visitors can enjoy cruising the waters by boat, a quiet lakeside picnic, or going for a refreshing swim after a scenic hike along one of the nearby trails. At Claytor Lake, you can feel far away from it all yet still have plenty of exciting opportunities for recreation and adventure.